A hobby that Khalia Lewter picked up from her mom became a passion at William Peace University and led to an opportunity at one of the best graduate schools for her field.
When Lewter was in middle school, her mom introduced her to photography and purchased her a camera. Lewter got away from photography for a while, but her boyfriend asked her to shoot some of his football games last year.
“That weekend sparked a passion that I forgot about,” Lewter said. “I forgot hearing that shutter sound (of a camera) bubbles up joy and adrenaline moving around with my camera.”
Lewter, a Communications major, spent the last year interning in the athletic department at Peace and decided to keep following her dream of being a photographer.
“I applied to Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD),” Lewter said. “And I got in.”
A transfer student, Lewter improved her craft by shooting sports. She talked about how important it is to pick up her camera daily and put in the reps to improve. Shooting sports, something originally out of her comfort zone, helps the DC native stay “on my feet.”
Carly Vadinsky, the director of athletic communications at William Peace University, allowed Lewter to intern with the athletic department.
“She’s very passionate about photography,” Vadinsky said. “She’s jumping at all the opportunities. She’s been great for us this semester.”
Lewter’s favorite sports to shoot have been football (her boyfriend plays at Chowan University) and softball. Basketball proved to be the most challenging, but Lewter got the stamp of approval when Vadinsky told her she had an excellent eye for details.
“That kind of raised my head, like, Carly thinks I have a good eye,” Lewter expressed. “Don’t give up, keep building and getting better. That’s my drive, just her saying that.”
Vandinsky let Lewter shoot with no restrictions and told her to take a shot (literally), capturing whatever she saw. Lewter’s work has been featured on the athletic website and used for press releases and graphics on Peace athletes.
Vandinsky called Lewter a special talent who has benefited from the internship program at Peace. She works almost daily to apply her skills in real workplace situations.
And she hasn’t limited herself to Peace athletics. Occasionally, she’ll go to the Raleigh Flea Market to shoot content for the various businesses on location. That initiative has led to some business for Lewter, who ultimately wants to shoot sports photography or entertainment.
With SCAD on the horizon, Lewter is prepared to turn her passion into a full-blown career. From picking up a camera as a kid to finding her rhythm on the sidelines at Peace, she’s learned that growth comes from pushing herself — trying new angles, tackling new sports, or trusting her creative eye.
